Window control mechanism



April 20, 1954 J. H. ROETHEL 2,676,042

WINDOW CONTROL MECHANISM Filed NOV. 4, 1948 4-9 INVENTOR.

JZ/Y /7. Foa cl QQWQL Patented Apr. 20, 1954 WINDOW CONTROL MECHANISM John H. Roethel, Detroit, Mich, assignor to Marvel Equipment Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application November 4, 1948, Serial No. 58,225

3 Claims.

This invention relates to window regulator mechanism and particularly mechanism for controlling the operation of glass or transparent panels or the like of vehicles, especially automobile bodies, an object of the invention being to provide an improved mechanism which is compact, relatively simple in construction and economical to manufacture, eliminates considerable frictional resistance to the movement of the window panel, is capable of bein easily assembled, and is adapted for use without material changes to various types of windows.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved means for slidingly connecting the end of a swinging window regulator arm to the lower edge of a sliding window panel or to a mounting plate, the improved construction permitting not only easy installation of the regulator but also easier operation thereof due to the reduction in frictional resistance during operation of the Window regulator.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved connecting means for the end of a swinging regulator arm, such means including a member which is formed with a longitudinal channel having the back wall thereof provided with a longitudinal slot through which the transverse stud or pin on the end of the regulator arm freely projects, this stud carrying a bearing element or washer, preferably formed of plastic material, which has smooth bearing engagement with the upper and lower generally horizontal walls of the channel and also the front wall of the member, and the stud being held against withdrawal by means of a removable device attachable to the end of the stud after it has been inserted through the slot in the back wall of the channel.

Other objects of this invention will appear in the followin description and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forminga part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate correspond ing parts in the several views.

Fig. 1 is an inner fragmentary side elevation, partly broken away and partly in section, of an automobile door embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken substantially through lines 22 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 3 is an exploded view of the component parts of the structure shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a view generally similar to Fig. 2 but illustrating a modification.

Fig. 5 is an exploded view of the component parts of the structure shown in Fig. 4.

Before explaining in detail the present invention it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

Referring to the drawings wherein I have illustrated, by way of example, certain embodiments of the present invention, there is shown at lb a door of an automobile body comprising a door frame of any suitable construction formed with a main window opening which is adapted to be closed by means of a vertically slidable glass or other transparent panel ll. It will be understood that the present invention may be utilized in connection with any of the windows of an automobile or other vehicle body.

The sliding panel H is mounted in conventional manner within the window opening with the side and top edges thereof embraced within the usual glass run channels around the margin of the window opening when the window panel is fully raised. Secured to the lower edge of the panel I l is a retainer channel l2 to which the window regulator is adapted to be attached. The panel H -may be guided within the window Well in any suitable manner. In the present instance, by way of example, depending guide devices l3 and M are carried by the glass retainer channel I: at opposite ends thereof, these guide devices cooperating with fixed upright guides i5 and 56 within the window well. Since the guiding means for guiding opposite ends of the window panel within the window well form no part of the present invention, a further description thereof is not deemed necessary herein.

The window panel I I may be raised and lowered by means of a suitable window regulator mecha nism mounted within the window well below the main window opening. Depending upon requirements such regulator mechanism may embody a window regulator of the single arm or double arm type. In the present instance, there is shown a window regulator of the cross arm type comprising a pair of intersecting crossed arms 17 and I8 for shifting the window panel into and out of the window well. These arms are pivoted together at H3 at the locality of their crossing and the construction and arrangement of the arms are such that they will pass by each other during operation.

The inner or lower end of the arm 18, which may be termed the balance arm, is provided with a connection including a transverse stud 2B riveted to the end of the arm and slidable within a guideway or guide slot 2| in a mounting plate 22. This connection of the arm 13 with the mounting plate 22 will later be described in connection with Figs. 2 to inclusive. The inner end of the regulator arm H, which may be termed the driving arm, is rigidly attached to a gear sector 23 journalled on a mounting plate 24 by a stud 25 which is adjustable within an arcuate slot 26 in the plate, the stud being held in fixed adjusted position by means of a nut and lock washer 21. The gear 23 is driven by means oi a pinion (not shown) secured in the usual manner to a transverse handle shaft 28 which may be turned by means of a crank handle mounted at the inner side of the door. The mounting plates 22 and 24 are each stamped from a single metal blank and are formed with suitable screw bosses 29 and 36, respectively, by means of which the mounting plates may be secured by screws to the inner door panel 3|. The weight or" the window panel II and attached parts is counter balanced by means of a spiral or clock type spring the inner end of which is anchored to the stud I9 and the outer end of which is anchored to a pin 33 secured to the arm H.

The swinging arm [8 is provided at its outer end with a connection including a transverse stud 34 adapted to travel within a longitudinal guideway or guide slot 35 formed in a bracket 35 secured to the bottom of the retainer channel l2. Similarly the swinging arm i7 is provided at its outer end with a connection including a trans verse stud 31 adapted to travel within a longitudinal guide slot or guideway 38 formed in a bracket 39 secured to the bottom or the retainer channel i2.

In Figs. 2 to 5 inclusive the construction of the bracket 39 together with the connection of the window regulator arm ll thereto is shown. It will be understood that the same construction is provided for the connection of the window regulator arm 18 to the bracket 3% and also for the connection or" the inner end of the regulator to the mounting plate 22. In other words, the connecting means of the regulator arms at points 20, t l and 31 are preferably identical and correspond to the construction shown in rigs. 2 to 5 inclusive.

Referring to Figs. 2 to 5 inclusive, the bracket 83 is formed with a flange 39a along its upper edge spot welded to the bottom of the glass retainer channel 12. The bracket is pressed or rolled to provide a longitudinally extending channel .9 forming upper and lower parallel horizontal walls 59a and 4922. After the channel so has been formed a portion of the back wall is punched or blanked out so as to form the horizontally extending guide slot 33. A similar channel slot construction is formed in the mounting plate 22 and also inthe bracket The stud ri to the outer end of the regulator arm I7 and is provided with a cylindrical transverse shank ii of uniform diameter. An annular groove 42 is cut or machined adjacent the outer end of the stud shank 4i. Adapted to be mounted on the shank ll of the stud is a bearing Washer or element 433 which has a bore 44 through which the stud shank is slidable into the position shown in Fig. 2. The washer 43 is formed with an annular outwardly projecting disk-like portion at. Extending from one side of this disk-like portion is a cylindrical bearing portion 46 of a diameter to fit within the channel 46 in bearing engagement with the opposed bearing surfaces of the walls 50a and b. The width of the bearing portion is of the Washer preferably corresponds substantially to the depth of the channel til so as to cause the disk portion d5 to engage the front wall of the bracket member 39 when the parts are assembled as shown in Fig. 2. Extending from the disk portion at the side thereof opposite to the'bearing portion it is a cylindrical spacer portion 4'! adapted for the purpose of spacing the flange or disk like portion 45 from the outer end of the regulator arm when the parts are assembled.

When the regulator arm carrying washer s3 is assembled with the bracket 3%, stud shank M is inserted through the slot the bearing the 33 thereby positioning the hearing portion it of so as to have hear- The washer within the channel 5% ing engagement with the walls lilo stud projects through the slot 33 a tance, as shown in Fig. 2, to a washer 43 to be positioned on the shank ii inwar of the locking groove or slot 52. The workme by the use of a suitable tool for a spring cotter pin A9 transversely over the so as to snap into position within the annular groove or slot d2 thereby locking the washer E3 against removal and also looking the stud 37 against thdrawal from the channel With the parts thus assembled as shown in Fig. 2 the bearing portion of the bearing el ment will be permitted 0 slide freely with a minimum oi friction within the channel tii against the surfaces of the walls ite and thereof. Since the shank i of the stud preferably has a diameter son: at less than the height of the slot 58, the sh stud will travel longitudinally within t slot 33 free of engagement with the edg This construction, in which the shank 0- does not ide against the edges 0*" preferred in. order to achieve by elin -nating frictional engagement 0' a with the raw edges of the slot 38 a very smooth operation is attained with a of frictional resistance.

i it

The construction illustrated in e and 5 is identical to that shown in Figs. 2 and 3 with resistance to the longitudinal travel of the studs it, 36 and 3? in their respective guide slots and also to reduce to a minimum any obj noise resulting from vibration which 1mg erwise occur sometimes on account of sligh between the/parts occasioned va'iations to production tolerances, l prei'er to form the washers 43 and t8 oi relatively soft non-m material which will eliminate, or objectionable chattering or noises aceur fit of the parts is not obtained. I prefer to m the washers 43 and d3 of a plastic material which will slide easily and smoothly against the surfaces of the bracket 39 with a minimum of friethe washers 43 and 48. Other thermoplastic materials, such as ethylcellulose, may also be utilized. By the use of such plastic materials in the fabrication of the bearing washers 43 and 48 superior results are achieved since it has been found that the window panel may be raised and lowered by the window regulator with consid-' erably less effort than heretofore. By thus reducing greatly the frictional resistance it is pos sible to achieve considerable economies in the regulator construction owing to the fact that a regulator of lighter weight may be utilized than would otherwise be necessary.

I claim:

1. Connecting means for an end of a swinging regulator arm having a transverse stud secured to the end of the arm comprising a unitary member having a front vertical wall formed with a. longitudinal channel to provide vertically spaced; upper and lower longitudinally extending generally horizontal bearing walls terminating at their outer edges in a, single upright back wall} joining said edges together, said back wall being formed with a longitudinal slot receiving said stud, a bearing element mounted on said stud and having a cylindrical portion fitting between said bearing walls and a disk-like portion engaging the front wall of said member, said stud having a spacer portion for spacing said disk-like portion from the regulator arm, and said stud being free of substantial frictional engagement with the edges of said slot.

2. Connecting means for an end of a swinging regulator arm having a transverse stud secured to the end of the arm, comprising a unitary member having a front vertical wall formed with a longitudinal channel to provide vertically spaced upper and lower longitudinally extending generally horizontal bearing walls terminating at their outer edges in a single upright back wall joining said edges together, said back wall being formed with a longitudinal slot adapted to receive said stud, a bearing element adapted to be mounted on said stud and having a cylindrical portion fitting between said bearing walls and a disk-like portion engageable with the front wall of said member, and means for spacing said disklike portion from the regulator arm.

3. Connecting means for an end of a swinging regulator arm having a transverse stud secured to the end of the arm, comprising a unitary member having a front vertical wall formed with a longitudinal channel to provide vertically spaced upper and lower longitudinally extending generally horizontal bearing walls terminating at their outer edges in a single upright back wall joining said edges together, said back wall being formed with a longitudinal slot adapted to receive said'stud, a bearing element adapted to be mounted on said stud and having a cylindrical portion fitting between said bearing 3 walls and a disk-like portion engageable with the front wall of said member, said element also having a spacer portion for spacing said disk-like portion from the regulator arm, and said stud being free of substantial frictional engagement with the edges of the slot.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 56,304 Whiteley July 10, 1866 314,249 Keeler Mar. 24, 1885 584,351 Hart June 15, 1397 941,695 Bakeland Nov. 30, 1909 2,017,244 Gudmundsen Oct.- 15, 1935 2,126,142 Saunders et al. Aug. 9, 1938 2,168,242 Roethel Aug. 1, 1939 2,319,109 Bulloch May 11, 1943 2,541,579 Fish Feb. 13, 1951 

